Medical centres in the South Coast are 'well-equipped' to deal with a potential increase in those wanting to get vaccinated, after a Victorian family who visited the South Coast tested positive for COVID-19 on June 2 and 3.
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Shoalhaven Family Medical Centre practice principal Annette Pham reassured there are plenty of doses to supply across their four medical centres in Vincentia, Bay & Basin, Culburra and Worrigee.
"There is plenty of vaccine available. We have 1,200 vaccines available per week and most general practices have an increased supply now," said Ms Pham.
Over 1,000 COVID tests were carried out in the Shoalhaven on Wednesday, June 3, after a confirmed case of COVID-19 from Melbourne travelled to Jervis Bay while potentially infectious on May 23 to 24.
Read more: No new locally acquired COVID cases in NSW
There were no positive cases recorded in NSW the following day, Thursday, June 4.
With the South Coast being put on a COVID alert, Mrs Pham hopes this will encourage people to book COVID-19 vaccine appointments.
"We hope this situation will see an uptake in the vaccine. There has been some hesitancy with a lot of people waiting for the Pfizer vaccine, but we don't know when enough supply of that will come, it could be early next year," she said.
"There is little point in people waiting if they are in the eligible age group to have the [AstraZeneca] vaccine."
Mrs Pham reassured the AstraZeneca is a safe vaccine.
Mrs Pham also reassured around 4,500 people across their four practices have received at least their first dose of the immunisation.
"The Vincentia uptake of the vaccine has been very good," she said.
The Minister for Digital and Customer Service Victor Dominello announced that people aged 40 and over can register their interest for the COVID vaccine on the Service NSW app, as authorities attempt to streamline the process.
"That makes it really simple for the five odd million people to register their interest," he said in a press conference yesterday, June 2.
"This will continue to roll out as we progress through the age brackets."
Those who register their interest will then be sent an email to book their appointment for the jab when availabilities open up.
More than 1.3 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in NSW.
To check your eligibility for the COVID vaccine, visit: https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility
To book an appointment, visit: https://www.hotdoc.com.au/
For further information, please see www.health.gov.au or phone the Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080.
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Grace Crivellaro
Court reporter for the Illawarra Mercury.
Court reporter for the Illawarra Mercury.
